The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for one (1) full-time Early Intervention Substance Use Disorder Therapist for the Mental Health Service Line. This position may be filled by a Social Worker, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist. This position is located at the Des Moines VA Medical Center, 3600 30th St, Des Moines, IA 50310. ***A recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.*** To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/29/2023. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j. Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. 2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 3. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation. 4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. 5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. 6. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 7. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. 8. Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. References: VA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G43 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: This position is mainly sedentary and will be performed in an office setting. ["The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. This position is administratively within the Mental Health Service Line at the VA Central Iowa Health Care System, with assignment to the mental health area at Des Moines, placed within the Behavior Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The incumbent will be an advisor to the BHIP teams in the area of the assessment and treatment of Substance Use Disorders and mental health needs. The LPMHC will be a member providing evidenced-based mental health treatment to Veterans with SUD and mental health needs. In general, it is our belief that treatments for Veterans with both SUD and Mental Health can be effectively delivered concurrently. The LPMHC is responsible for providing the full spectrum of counseling services including initial consultation assessment for the BHIP, and brief individual therapy for Veterans who have increased risk for substance use disorders. This could include bridging care into the Atlas SUD program, along accepting Veterans, who have discharged from Atlas for ongoing support and stabilization. The LPMHC will provide an informed early intervention approach with a full range of proactive, integrated and comprehensive outpatient mental health care that is recovery oriented and evidence-based, including when possible and where indicated, VA Evidence Based Treatment such as Motivational Interviewing or Motivational Enhancement Therapy. This LPMHC will provide in both face-to-face and Telemental health modalities. The incumbent will also provide education regarding a veteran-centered recovery model, and work with veterans to help them connect with the appropriate level of care. Duties include, but are not limited to: A. Independently selects and implements appropriate psychological, behavioral, and counseling techniques to assess/diagnose problems accurately and plan appropriate treatment interventions for the client. B. Provides highly skilled clinical service for the full range of clients seeking mental health services. Conducts, scores and interprets assessments, and recommends treatment programs to other professionals based on these assessments. Designs and makes recommendations for therapeutic programming. Provides skilled diagnosis and psychotherapy utilizing individual, group, telemedicine, and other standard care delivery formats. C. Provides consultation to other health care professionals within the Mental Health Service Line and throughout the medical center on relevant mental health issues specific to scope of clinical privileges. D. Provides specialized assessment and/or treatment services to appropriate clinical populations and programs as mutually negotiated with the Director, Mental Health Service Line or designee. Such services will be provided in accordance with federal regulations, relevant state law and commonly accepted guidelines established by specialty disciplines or sub-disciplines E. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for Veterans with psychological and psychiatric problems. F. Documents services provided in the patient's written/electronic medical record within the time frame as outlined in the Medical Staff Rules and Regulations. Adheres to accepted ethical standards in the delivery of clinical services and seeks appropriate professional and ethical consultation when conflicts arise. G. When appropriate, provides formal didactic training to trainees, staff, and other health care providers. H. Maintains and improves areas of professional and clinical competence by participating in this appropriate medical center committees and meeting professional requirements for continuing education and performance improvement. I. Maintains appropriate and respectful working relationships with Mental Health Service Line staff, staff from other programs and services within the medical center, the VISN, VA headquarters, and the academic community. PLEASE SEE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BELOW Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Available - Ad Hoc as appropriate Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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